Update

Risk Management for Health and Fitness Professionals to Minimise the Risk of Legal Liability

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FIRMC® was recently at the AUSFitness Industry 2023 held at the International Convention Center (ICC) in Sydney between 28 – 29 April 2023. Dr Betul Sekendiz, Managing Director FIRMC® presented a lecture session at the Business of Fitness Summit entitled “Risk Management for Health and Fitness Professionals to Minimise the Risk of Legal Liability”. The … Read more

Risk management research at public aquatic facilities: Minimising the risk of drowning due to pre-existing medical conditions

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Swimming is one of the most popular forms of low impact sport and exercise. According to Sport Australia 2019 AusPlay national survey findings, each year approximately 15 in every 100 Australian adults aged 15 and over use aquatic facilities or clubs for swimming. Regular and appropriately designed swimming programs can offer various preventive health benefits against musculoskeletal and metabolic chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular. However, drowning associated with pre-existing medical conditions continues to be one of the leading causes of death and immobility.

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Social media risk management strategies for fitness businesses

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The number of fitness businesses using social media websites to attract and engage with their clients has substantially increased over the last decade (1) and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic (2). While the social media websites have their own terms and conditions for user safety, data protection and privacy, it is important for … Read more

Independent contractors in the fitness industry: Are you insured?

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In a recent negligence lawsuit in Queensland, Australia, a national gym chain and its personal trainer (PT) have been sued by a client, who was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis – the rapid breakdown of seriously injured skeletal muscle tissue that can severely damage the kidneys – as a result of an excessive training session (Branco, 2017). The company argued that the PT was an independent contractor and therefore it was not responsible for the actions of the PT, nor did it owe the client a duty of care to ensure PT services at the gym were “provided with due care and skill”.

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